Arizona Cardinals Squeak Out 34-31 Win Over Seattle Seahawks

The Arizona Cardinals were just able to beat the Seattle Seahawks, 34-31, thanks to Chandler Catanzaro’s game-winning field goal as the clock expired.

In a game that didn’t mean a whole lot for the Arizona Cardinals, they were able to squeak out a win against the Seattle Seahawks on the road with a 34-31 win.

Chandler Catanzaro drilled a 43-yard game-winning field goal as the clock expired to seal an improbable win against Seattle. The win bumped the Cardinals record to 6-8-1, while the playoff-bound Seahawks fell to 9-5-1. The loss at home puts a dent in their hopes for a first-round bye.

The Cardinals went into the game acknowledging the “physical altercations” that would take place in a Week 16 match-up with the two respective clubs. It essentially meant nothing for them, but they certainly didn’t play like it.

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Scores by David Johnson and JJ Nelson gave the Cards a 14-0 lead with several minutes remaining in the second quarter. With 0:15 left on the clock in the first half, the Seahawks got on the board courtesy of Steven Hauschka’s 27-yard field goal. Johnson would finish the day with two more touchdowns and 95 rushing yards on 28 carries.

The Seahawks cut into the Cards’ lead with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse in the third quarter, making it the only scoring possession of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter there were seven scoring possessions in a back-and-forth affair between two rivals where records meant nothing. With a little under three minutes left in the game and a Cardinals’ lead extended to 13 points, the Seahawks quickly stormed back thanks to masterful play from quarterback Russell Wilson. A 37-yard touchdown to Jimmy Graham made it a one-score game, and nearly two minutes later they were able to tie it when Wilson found Paul Richardson wide open in the end-zone for a five-yard touchdown.

Now with 1:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had pulled off an incredible comeback. All they needed was for Hauschka to chip in the extra point and they’d have a one-point lead. Both the snap and hold were good, but Hauschka just shanked it. It went wide left and the game stayed tied at 31-31.

The Cardinals quickly marched down the field and into the field goal range of Catanzaro. Despite a shaky 2016 campaign, Catanzaro drilled it, stunning the Seahawks and their faithful fan base at home.

In a game that meant nothing for them, Bruce Arians and his guys were able to come into Seattle and knock off one of the best teams in the NFC. It’s frustrating to think about what this game could have meant for the Cardinals if they were able to live up to the expectations.

This would have been their best win of the year, and certainly a wave of momentum heading into Week 17 and playoffs the following week.

For a season that has been pretty disappointing, this was a good team win that fans will remember for a long time.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Arians Set to Return in 2017

The Cardinals will wrap up their 2016 season next week as they travel to play the Los Angeles Rams (4-11).

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